Page 34 - 2021 Westchester County Economic Development Guide

Green
It’s Easy Being Green
Westchester County Director of Sustainability Peter McCartt discusses the County’s sustainability efforts and commitment to the environment.
Westchester Forward
© AdobeStock
How has COVID-19 impacted the environment?
COVID-19 has had a host of devastating impacts, but strangely enough, it has helped the environment. There have been fewer cars on the roads. The only way it has not been helpful is that more focus has been taken away from the existential threat of climate change – and resources have been diverted from that fight. There has also been a negative impact on mass transit. One of the biggest ways COVID has helped is that now everybody on earth understands that we are all a global community and what we do locally can have an impact across the globe.
What are some of the current initiatives underway?
We have been focusing on progress in three areas: transportation, heating/ cooling and energy production. Our bus fleet will be fully electric or electric hybrid by 2026. Six electric buses are coming onboard in 2021. We have increased the number of charging stations for the public in parking lots at places like train stations, using grant money secured through the State.
We also have a 91⁄2-megawatt solar power project, stretching over seven different facilities that we own around the County. Phase 2 will include municipalities and schools of New York Power Authority customers, and offer them access to solar energy over the next year or so.
How does Westchester’s commitment to the environment positively impact our economy and quality of life?
We’re working on 60 million dollars worth of capital projects that are creating tons of jobs. Sustainable Westchester, an environmental non-profit, is doing so many good things – including community power aggregation across the County. One of their initiatives – Community Solar – enables private homes to subscribe to a solar program without having to put solar panels up. This results in 10 percent savings on their Con Ed bill. It only takes five minutes to sign up at sustainablewestchester.org/ community solar.
Anything else you’d like to share?
The County has tackled the issue of food scrap recycling via a multi- pronged program starting with Feeding Westchester to recover food before it needs to be composted, as well as composting at home with their compost bins and rain barrels sold at cost. The cornerstones are the Transportation & Disposal program wherein the County will manage any municipality’s collected food scraps and the CompostED education facility being constructed at the Household Material Recovery Facility in Valhalla.
MARKING A MILESTONE: Green Business Partnership 10th Anniversary
The Green Business Partnership (GBP), a sustainability certification program founded by the Business Council of Westchester in partnership with Westchester County and Green Team Spirit LLC, honored six organizations at the 10th Annual Green Business Partnership Awards in September.
“Our vision is to accelerate sustainable business by engaging, educating and empowering organizational leaders and staff to make meaningful and measurable changes,” said Dani Glaser, GBP Program Director and owner
of Green Team Spirit LLC. “Our honorees have and continue
to work hard to be part of the solution, protecting our planet and resources for future generations.”
HONOREES INCLUDE:
• Cerebral Palsy of Westchester (Rye Brook): The Charles W. Brown, Jr. Sustainability Award for visionary leadership.
• The Rey Insurance Agency (Sleepy Hollow): The Organizational Commitment Award for the dedication and example set by owner Laura Rey Iannarelli.
• Purchase College: The Energy Award, for integrating sustainability initiatives and practices into operations and curriculum.
• Westmed Medical Group: The Waste Management & Green Products Award.
• Regeneron (Tarrytown): The Land Use & Water Award.
“We’re very fortunate to live and work in Westchester.
Our County Executive, George Latimer, listens to science. We believe in science.” —Peter McCartt
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE